reaction wood
Term Information
- Accession
- PO:0025472
- Aspect
- plant anatomy
- Synonyms
- None
- Definition
- A portion of secondary xylem (PO:0005848) found on either the upper or lower side of a shoot axis (PO:0025029) that is or was angled away from vertical, with anatomical characteristics that depend on whether it is compression wood (PO:0025473) or tension wood (PO:0025474). [source: ISBN:3540411739, PO_REF:00012]
- Comment
- Develops as a response to gravity (either tension or compression) and may function in restoring a stem (PO:0009047) or branch (PO:0025073) that is leaning to its original position. May be either compression wood, found on the lower side of a gymnosperm shoot axis, or tension wood, found on the upper side of an angiosperm shoot axis.
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External References
None.